Menu

COPD and Other Stuff This is a patient-to-patient blog to exchange information and resources…from COPD to Arthritis to Cellulites to Sarcoidosis to Sleep Apnea to RLS to Psoriasis to Support Groups to Caregivers and all points in between.

Tag Archives: small business owner

What does it take to keep vulnerable senior patients/any patient
reasonably cared for in a rehab setting? How many oversee
patients when a podiatrist comes to call and cut
toenails?

Is it true that Pedicurists aren’t trained well
enough for Lymphedema patients to take a chance on
them. Really?

….I believed it might be true even though I had never seen
bloody toenails from a pedicurist cutting nails during my career as
a cosmetologist in Washington and
California and a small business owner here.
What do I know about medical things? I’m learning that
one thing can and does frequently lead into another.

The comments from a trusted Lymphedema medical
professional was enough and I stopped going to a licensed
pedicurist I liked who cheerfully gave me well trimmed and bright,
jazzy colored painted toenails.

And, like Jacks Beanstalk, my toenails grew … until months later
I overheard that a Podiatrist would be available
to cut toenails – just’ line up. I waited until
mid-afternoon, then ‘got in line.’

The crowd finally thinned in the hallway. Finally, there was
room inside where he and an assistant were working with patients in
a semi-circle. I was escorted to an empty seat at the far end of
the semi-circle facing the doorway. Many of the patients were
in wheelchairs and I noticed as he made his way around to the left
of the circle, some of the people wore band-aids on their toes.
I watched him tap, tap push something against a toe
then put the band aid on. As he got closer to me, one or two
chairs away I TOLD him I had lymphedema and
COULDN’T GET CUT because I too easily was
infected. I had been fighting the last session almost a
year. Almost nothing, I have experienced compares to the pain
of lymphedema. Nothing. He did not
reply.

That said, many of the bare toes left behind the
Podiatrist sprouted Band-Aids as he moved along
past the chairs/wheelchairs.

My visions of getting up graciously, majestically and quietly
walking away before he reached me did not happen. I sat there
like a stump off a log while he worked his way around to my chair
and began cutting my toenails. I didn’t say a word as he
finished one foot and worked on the other. I watched him get
something and go tap, tap, push on the end of my big toe then
placed a band aide over the end. He said something as he
moved away and I was escorted out of the room to the wheelchair I
pushed away down the hall. To the other end of the hall
elevator and down to the next floor.. I rolled into the
physical therapy room where I had an appointment and told the
therapist what happened. I was shaking and she said she would
find the nurse on duty when I couldn’t tell her how bad it was –
only that he cut my toe.

The nurse pulled the Band-Aid away to see it and said ‘that’s
not bad.’ The trouble with Lymphedema – for me, if not most
of us – a simple scratch or bruise can develop into a big deal
infection.

In addition, I mentioned to her the room upstairs was full of
Band-Aid covered toes on patients – some in wheel chairs.
What if they got infected and had to UNNECESSARILY deal with
infection caused by cuts on their feet from a podiatrist? I
suggested they check the patients.

I asked her to take photos for me because I couldn’t see
it. The photos were taken, the Band-Aid replaced and I had my
physical therapy session.

To be absolutely clear. I was loaded with antibiotics at
the time. My toe healed nicely. No lawsuits then or
now. I don’t know how the other patients faired.

My point here is to ask how you know your loved one is not
being cut leading to an infection when a trained podiatrist cuts
their toenails. You don’t know. Go watch a time or two
– check these things out.

Patients be aware – patient centers too. Make sure that
podiatrist is competent.

Chris Henry is writing a story of health, businesses and
employees.
I could not stop myself from responding and decided my thoughts
from my present patient standpoint and past small business owner
belonged here too.

The fact is patients are not given enough information in my
opinion.

Chris Henry, reporter says: “We all know what we should do to
take better care of ourselves — eat healthier, exercise more,
reduce stress (good luck on that last one). Employee wellness
programs aim to get workers practicing better self care, but are
they actually effective?”

Sharon, patient says:
If the velvet gloves are removed and employees are SHOWN (get
patient volunteers) examples of life with different medical
conditions caused by -smoking is one example- I’d guess a good
percent of the present or wannabe employees might well change
personal habits to reflect self preservation and to keep a good
job.

If I had a small business today and included paid medical
insurance for my employees, I would have a checklist for
prospective employees to answer and incentives for present
employees to get in the fitness lineup.

Blunt words and visual frankness works.

Years ago a good friend and 30 year smoker read a Reader’s
Digest article showing photos of healthy lungs next to a chronic
smoker lungs.
My friend told me he felt sickened and stopped smoking
immediately.
He also showed me the article, yet I went on to smoke another 20
years or so.

Obesity is a despised condition by seemingly everyone, yet the
productivity of an obese person can be double the effectiveness to
the business of a ‘normal’ sized person.

I once had someone tell me I needed to get rid of one of my
employees because her appearance did not reflect well on my
business.

Why not?

She was fat…way fat…obese…truly a genuine tubbyette.

I told him I could not. For one thing, I liked her and she had
worked for and with me too many years, since she finished school.
She had also become the most productive employee I had.

The day came when she asked for another raise. She was at
capacity. She was well worth a raise, no issue there.
The trouble is the way my pay scale worked I couldn’t give her one
without losing money.

Therefore, to give her a well-deserved raise, I figured out new
prices to her clients and I became a business with two price tiers
and cost percentages within the tiers.

The reason for this little story is twofold.

1. Look beyond appearances.

2. Knowing what I know today about health issues, I would never
have hired her based on her unhealthy size and lost out on getting
to know a remarkable, artistically talented, kind, thoughtful
individual. She became family.

About This Blog

This is a patient to patient blog to exchange information and resources...from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) to Arthritis to Cellulites to Sarcoidosis to Sleep Apnea to RLS to Psoriasis to Support Groups to Caregivers and all points in between. Written by Sharon O'Hara.